Cherry Bars

Step 1

Gather all the ingredients.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). For a convection oven, reduce cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC). Line a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking dish with parchment paper.

Step 3

Pit cherries and toss them with 2 tsp flour.

Step 4

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine melted butter, vanilla and sugar. Mix on medium speed until well blended and smooth.

Step 5

Blend in flour and salt and stir until incorporated.

Step 6

Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared baking dish. Bake until crust is golden and slightly puffed, about 18 minutes.

Step 7

When the crust is done, transfer to a wire rack and cool crust in pan.

Step 8

Meanwhile, let’s make the filling. Cut the butter into a few pieces and place in a saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter completely stirring frequently with the spatula.

Step 9

As the butter heats, it will begin to foam and then bubble. After several minutes, the milk solids will start to become brown on the bottom of the pan. Make sure that milk solids do not stick to the pan. Continue stirring until the butter is evenly browned, being careful not to burn. Remove from the heat and pour browned butter into a glass bowl to cool slightly.

Step 10

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine eggs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk all together.

Step 11

Add extracts and blend in flour by ⅓ at a time. Whisk all together until smooth.

Step 12

Gradually blend in browned butter and whisk mixture until completely blended.

Step 13

Arrange cherries over cooled crust.

Step 14

Carefully pour filling evenly over fruit.

Step 15

Bake at 375ºF (190ºC) for about 30 minutes, until filling is puffed and golden. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean. Cool bars completely in pan on a wire rack.

Step 16

Carefully lift the parchment paper to remove cooled bars from the pan and place them on a cutting board. Cut them into squares using a knife.

Step 17

Store bars in an airtight container for up to one day at room temperature, then store any remaining in the refrigerator.